Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Five Years Ago






Five years ago we met our sweet baby girl in a small, hot room in Guangzhou, China. Oh my -- what a beautiful baby! She seemed so very small to me, although she was 14 months old already. Our dreams of her had started two years prior during all of the document prep and approvals and the wait to referral. And we had been waiting for two months to meet her from the time we first saw her picture. And there she was -- quiet, but furiously sucking on two fingers. She came to me easily and seemed to hold on for dear life, but maybe it was the other way around and it was really me holding on to her for dear life. It was such an incredible moment! We spent the next 10 days in China getting to know our girl. She cried and cried at night, slurped noodles and sucked down congee during the day and charmed us. She revealed a little bit more of herself with each passing day as she became used to us and learned to trust us. It was a marvelous time and the only thing that would have made it better would have been to have our two sons along with us. Tonight we watched our video of our trip and it seemed like yesterday, but also a very long time ago.

In the five years we've known her, she's grown and changed so much. She's become a sweet, funny, determined little girl. She's come out of her shell more and more, especially in the last year. She loves BBQ chips, kindergarten, her friends and any and every stuffed animal. She beams with happiness when she's playing outside, climbing and swinging from the monkey bars at the school playground. More than anything lately, she wants to learn how to do cartwheels. She is proud of having been born in China, and we have tentative plans to visit at some point in the future with one of her cribmates. She's brought so much happiness and love to our entire family. We are delighted and proud to be her parents -- she is simply a joy! Happy anniversary sweetie! Love, Mom

10 comments:

Lisa said...

I love revisiting our adoption trips/memories. They are so special. She is so beautiful and happy.

Jodee said...

What a sweet "gotcha" post! It brought tears to my eyes! Miss Maddy is such a litte blessing and you are so lucky to be her Mommy!

Jodee said...

P.S. I forgot how cute Maddy's referral picture was! She had the cutest little face! Love those cheeks!

Bridget said...

Congratulations on your anniversary! I know it is a special day. Maddy was as adorable in her referral picture as she is today! She sounds like such a sweetie!

Shari said...

Maddy has grown so much and is so cute! She is so lucky to have such wonderful parents! Her little referral pictures so cute!

paige said...

she is so beautiful!!
congratulations on your anniversary today!!
xo
ps--thank you for your sweet comments & blessings for my mil.
hugs

Kate said...

THanks for sharing those precious memories...it was like being right there. What a special time in your life. She has grown more beautiful with each passing year.

Kate

Kerry said...

Such a sweet post and your description of it took me to your special day. Your daughter is so beautiful and clearly she fills your home with joy every day.
Hugs and happy anniversary.
Kerry

Keri said...

Wow! She has been gorgeous from day 1. Congratulations on having such a wonderful and beautiful daughter. I love her hair. It is so shiny and smooth. She could do commercials for hair products!! She truly is a beauty.

Keri

Courtney said...

This is a sweet sentiment. Congrats on your anniversary of being a family. What precious gifts our girls are in our lives. Truly amazing!